Most of us were taught as children that [tag]circuses[/tag] involve animals (usually large and “wild”) performing stupid tricks at the behest of a ringleader who does nothing more than gently wave a hand to indicate to the animal its next move. What we aren’t taught is what it takes to get a wild animal to behave so unnaturally. I can assure you that it has nothing to do with the intellectual superiority of the trainers.

Rather, these animals are stripped from the nurturing care of their families at a young age, when they are then forced into a life of beatings, shoutings, burnings, and deprivation. The video below (from circuses.com) shows a little about the reality of circus animals.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Targeting Activists
The corporations behind these circuses spend a lot of money portraying themselves as wholesome family fun. They also spend a lot of money on lawyers and undercover agents to make sure that no one tarnishes that image.

Will Potter recently wrote an exposé about some of the tactics used by the circus industry to smash the public’s ability to criticize their practices. While the Ringling Brothers’ Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) suit against the ASPCA was rejected by the judge, Potter is likely correct in his assessment that this will not be the final tactic used against activists who are trying to put a stop to [tag]animal cruelty[/tag] in circuses.

Feld Entertainment, the producers of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, has already begun to align the work of the ASPCA and other groups with extremism (which in today’s hyped climate is akin to terrorism).

“This lawsuit is a direct result of the animal rights extremists’ agenda to deny families in the United States entertainment choices like the circus and their ongoing conspiracy to harm Feld Entertainment,” company spokesman Stephen Payne said in a statement. (from The Dallas Morning News)

While it may be true that animal rights groups are attempting to deny families in the United States entertainment choices that are based on exploitation and torture, it can just as easily be said that Feld Entertainment has an agenda of denying U.S. citizens the right to assembly and free speech (not to mention privacy… check out the link above from Salon.com).

For more information about the exploitation and abuse of circus animals and what you can do to put a stop to it, visit circuses.com.

The Feds’ War on the Animal Rights Movement [counterpunch]
The imprisonment of the group, known as SHAC 7, is nothing more than history repeating itself. Those who first called for an end to slavery were imprisoned. Those who believed women should vote went to jail. Civil rights activists, supporters of gay and lesbian rights, and now animal rights activists have all been jailed. The only thing sadder than the imprisonment of animal rights activists is that they are fighting for a losing cause; for we now live in a society that slaps the wrist of a person who harms the neighbor’s dog yet subsidizes the systematic annual killing of billions of other animals for food, clothing, research and sport.

Urgent Action Needed for Kangaroos in California [Animal Protection Institute]
SB 880, a bill that would allow the sale of kangaroo skins and body parts in the state of California, is sailing through the legislative process. Sadly, it has now passed the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and moves to the Assembly for a floor vote.

Beyond Vick: Animal Cruelty for Sport [NPR]
And Vick’s infamy has at least put the spotlight on the loathsome business of dog-fighting. Who knew that the Humane Society estimates that there are as many as 40,000 Americans who fight dogs? And there are, too, other animal torture amusements in this country that, lacking a celebrity to spotlight them, actually remain legal in many states.(audio)

Cities Across North America Walk to Save Farm Animals [PR Newswire]
Throughout September and October, compassionate citizens join Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, in the annual Walk for Farm Animals.

Tiger, Tiger: Why it’s time to reconsider the whole notion of putting wild animals in zoos [Newsweek]
The tigers I saw spent all day pacing in their cages, and it was clear that they were not happy cats. The attack on Jeff Tierney ought to remind us that these are wild animals that we foolishly expect to behave like house pets so that we can ogle them.

Lawmaker-Veterinarian Wants Pets Protected [WLWT-NBC]
A veterinarian who also serves as a legislator is pushing for changes in the state’s animal protection laws to keep pets out of the hands of neglectful owners.

Decision on managing the bear population due[NorthJersey.com]
After Wednesday’s deadline for comment, state Environmental Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson will then have to a render a decision on the best way deal with the state’s estimated 3,000 bears.

One city’s fight over biomed plans [Christian Science Monitor]
When Covance, a multinational drug-testing company, elected to build a $44 million laboratory here – where it will test chemical and medical compounds on animals – residents, as well as national and international animal rights groups, mounted a vigorous campaign to block it.
To learn more about Covance, go to http://www.protectchandler.org/

Vick Loses Another Sponsor _ Rawlings [ABC News]
Michael Vick lost another sponsor Rawlings. The sports goods company said Tuesday it was ending its relationship with the Atlanta Flacons quarterback because of dogfighting conspiracy charges.

Nike suspends Vick’s endorsement deal [The Oregonian]
A week after seemingly standing by accused dogfighter Michael Vick, Nike said Friday it is suspending without pay its multimillion-dollar endorsement contract with the embattled NFL quarterback.

Is a Vegetarian Diet Healthier? [MSN]
Evidence has been building for two decades that people who eat a mostly vegetarian diet have the upper hand. But even scientific studies may not be enough to convince meat eaters to give up their lust for flesh in exchange for a longer, more disease-free life.

Your Veggie Burger Deconstructed [MSN]
We explain the purpose of some mysterious ingredients commonly spotted on the labels of meat-free burgers.

Poaching, Encroachment Threaten India’s Leopards [ENN]
India’s leopards are under threat, with increasing numbers of the wild cats being poached for their body parts and villagers killing them for straying into human settlements, experts said.

Canada Fights Belgian Ban on Seal Trade at WTO [ENN]
Canada will request consultations at the World Trade Organization to challenge Belgium’s ban of Canadian seal products.

Paul Sentenced to 4 Years… and a Book Report [Green Is The New Red.com]
A federal judge sentenced Jonathan Paul to four years and three months in prison for his role in a 1997 fire that destroyed the Cavel West horsemeat packing plant in Redmond, Ore.

‘Vegansexuals’ Do It With Each Other [ABC]
A recent study conducted in New Zealand found that vegans — notoriously finicky eaters who don’t eat meat or animal byproducts, like eggs and dairy — don’t like the idea of swapping spit (or anything else) with those who have been dining on flesh.

I-Team Report: Poultry Farm Abuse [Fox 8 News, Cleveland]
The Fox 8 News I-Team has obtained hidden camera video shot inside one of the nation’s largest poultry slaughterhouses. (link contains graphic video footage)

Dumping pets a burden on national forests [The Huntsville Item]
Each year, unwanted cats and dogs dumped on national forest lands kill and harass native birds, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles.

Activists ask feds to confiscate Maggie [KTUU]
In a letter sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, In Defense of Animals claims the Alaska Zoo is in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

Costa Rica monkeys lose ground to developers [MSN]
Costa Rica has lost up to half of its monkeys over the last 12 years as developers expanding into their jungle habitat isolate them in small communities, according to local scientists.

Victory for animal rights group against testing [The Independent]
An anti-vivisection campaign group won a partial victory yesterday in its High Court claim that the Government was failing in its legal duty to ensure animal suffering was kept to a minimum in UK laboratories.

Will Potter Posts Updated Analysis of Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act [GreenIsTheNewRed.com]
I finally got around to posting my updated analysis of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and posted a new pdf file that you can download as well.

UCSF Primate Research Is Target Of Watchdog Group [KTVU]
Ohio-based Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) has filed an official complaint with the USDA about UCSF and its research practices on primates, the group announced today.

Vineyard shark tournament met with opposition [WPRI]
Groups like the Humane Society of the United States say shark fishing techniques are barbaric and tournaments harm dwindling populations of thresher, blue and mako sharks.

SLC law limits picketing, but legal challenges sure to come [Salt Lake Tribune]
After abbreviated debate, the council voted 5-2 to make it illegal to demonstrate within 100 feet of private residences in Utah’s capital.

Animal group backs ACT’s proposed caged egg ban [ABC Rural]
Animal Liberation hopes a Bill to ban battery egg production in the ACT will set a precedent for other states.

Livestock contractor for rodeo sued [The State Journal-Register]
Saying that bulls were jabbed and electrically shocked at last summer’s rodeo, Steve Hindi, president of Geneva-based Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, on Friday sued Johnson & Jordan Rodeos LLC, which provided animals for the 2006 event. Johnson & Jordan is scheduled to do the same for this year’s weeklong rodeo, which begins Sunday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Red panda escapes from Zoo exhibit again [Yahoo! News]
Virginia Zoo officials on Monday began trimming the landscaping around a new red panda exhibit after the animal escaped for the second time in less than a month.

In Speech, Sen. Byrd Denounces Enthusiasts of Dogfighting [Washington Post]
“I am confident that the hottest places in hell are reserved for the souls of sick and brutal people who hold God’s creatures in such brutal and cruel contempt,” he said.

NOTE: I have purposefully left out any news coverage of the Michael Vick indictment. The reason is because I am working on a separate post for that issue… and its not exactly hard to find coverage of it.

Cockfighting supporters plan to sue state of New Mexico [The Albuquerque Tribune]
While Bhatka hasn’t decided whether he’ll take part, others who are indirectly connected to the state’s cockfighting industry say they plan to sue the state over the ban, which took effect last week.

Animal rights activists warn of protests against cull of 3,200 kangaroos in Australia [International Herald-Tribune]
Canberra’s administration, the Australian Capital Territory government, announced it would allow the Defense Department to shoot 2,800 kangaroos at one of its properties and use tranquilizer darts to kill another 400 on a second property, where shooting bullets its regarded as too dangerous to the public.

Scientists establish link between Foie Gras and Disease [Indian Catholic]
A University of Tennessee researcher has discovered an association between foie gras prepared from goose or duck liver and the type of amyloid found in rheumatoid arthritis or tuberculosis.

Mad cow lawsuit filed against government – by farmers [Taste Better!]
The courts have cleared the path for a class action suit against the Canadian government. The multi billion dollar suit claims that the feds’ handling of the mad cow outbreak was poorly handled, and public safety was jeopardized.

Josh Harper Finally Out of the Hole [Food Fight!]
After spending nearly 100 days in the SHU (Special Housing Unit, otherwise known as “the hole”), Josh was finally released back into his unit of the prison on Monday 6/18.

Judge Dismisses Schumacher Suit Against IDA, PeTA and Kevin Mieras [Portland IMC]
In federal court today, the judge dismissed all of Schumacher’s claims against IDA (and its employees) and PeTA, and dismissed a majority of the claims against Kevin Mieras.

Cat and Dog Fur Trade to End in EU [Sky News]
The European Parliament has voted to ban the “horrific” trade in cat and dog fur in the EU, in response to campaigns to outlaw a practice which many consider unethical.

Bernard Matthews worker caught playing football with turkeys [Daily Mail]
Poultry tycoon Bernard Matthews faces more criticism after animal rights supporters released a video showing one of his workers repeatedly kicking turkeys.

Roar greets bill to ban risky animals [The News & Observer]
The bill would ban private ownership of animals deemed “inherently dangerous,” including lions, tigers, apes, monkeys and venomous snakes not indigenous to North Carolina. It would exempt some organizations, including circuses, research facilities and sanctuaries that meet federal mandates. And it also contains a “grandfather” clause if the owner registers the animal with local animal control authorities, which would enforce the proposed law.

China Tiger Trade Ban Won’t Last, Official Says [ENN]
China will inevitably lift its ban on the trade of tiger bones and body parts, a wildlife official told state media, saying groups seeking to profit from the government’s captive-bred tigers were too strong to resist.

Source: Democracy Now!